• Question: What is the Mars Yard?

    Asked by Batty Jack to Elie on 16 Mar 2016. This question was also asked by Astro.
    • Photo: Elie Allouis

      Elie Allouis answered on 16 Mar 2016:

      Hi Batty Jack,

      Good question… The Mars Yard is our test facility that simulate Mars – to an extent 🙂 – we have representative sands and rocks as well as the right illumination conditions. This allows us to test the navigation software and the autonomous functions of rovers like the ExoMars rover that will be launched in 2018.
      From the outside it looks like a normal hangar…but step inside, and you are on Mars ! 😛 – we cannot change gravity though …:-)

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